Glamour Knits at Home – Erika Knight

Glamour Knits at Home

I’m going to end the year with an easy book – Glamour Knits at Home by Erika Knight. The sub-title is 15 Sensuous Designs to Knit and Keep Forever and it was published in the US by Potter Craft in 2007. It was first published in the UK, but doesn’t seem to translate well for an American taste level. Looks like it’s out-of-print, but available on Amazon.

You might guess right away that it’s a thumbs down. I mean REALLY – 15 patterns in the whole book! There is only one pattern I even like (more on that later). They seem to be styled for a Victorian boudoir and a dowdy boudoir at that. Even though I’m a fan of antiques, these designs leave me flat. I’m happily removing this from my shelf.

Glamour Knits at Home – back cover

As in the most recent post of another Erika Knight book, there is a color photography section in the front of the book (first 40 pages) and then gray photos and patterns in the back pages.

Lampshade

Here are a couple of the patterns and styling featured.

tea cozy

The one spr

sachets – scented squares

Below is the one spread that I do like as well as the patterns. The use of buttons is quite unique and a good idea for someone who has as large a button collection as I have.

button and lace pillows

http://www.amazon.com/Glamour-Knits-Home-Sensuous-Collectibles/dp/0307394700/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419976256&sr=8-1&keywords=glamour+knits+at+home

Nicky Epstein – The Knit Hat Book

 

The Knit Hat Book cover

While I’m on a blogging roll, I thought I’d go for a small book (only 90 pages long) to end the week – almost end the year!

Nicky Epstein’s The Knit Hat Book was published in 1997. It was probably one of the early knitting books that I owned back in the day when I bought every knitting book published.

The Knit Hat Book – back cover

Should I give it a thumbs up or down? It’s a cute little gem that isn’t taking up tons of space on my book shelf, but is most likely not one that I’ll use in the future. The other tricky little thing is that Nicky autographed it to me and that makes it hard to let go of this book.

What to do, what to do? I’m being ruthless – so – thumbs down!

The book has 25 hats from basic shapes. Some of the styles are a bit dated, but feature Nicky’s clever appliqués and whimsical details.

Pillbox hats

Black Cat Pillbox Hats

She does berets, pillbox styles, simple cabled pull-on caps all in pretty basic yarns.

Roman Cable Hat

Bottom line: If you want to try different hats styles, this book is ideal. It’s out of print, but can be found on Amazon and probably eBay.

http://www.amazon.com/Knit-Hat-Book-Basic-Shapes/dp/1561581992/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418933416&sr=1-1&keywords=the+knit+hat+book&pebp=1418933416959

Classic Knits – Erika Knight

Classic Knits cover

I have truly fallen off the “blogging wagon”. Too much life going on, but I’m back and even though I’m away for the winter I have a huge bag of books to review.

Classic Knits by Erika Knight (published by Potter Crafts in 2006) was an easy book. Erika says the book is “a contemporary collection of knitted wardrobe basics”. In other words – a book of patterns. The two-page intro is written in something like 24-point type – not too much to say about the book.

Classic Knits – Back Cover

As everyone knows how I feel about pattern books or books of patterns, it is pretty easy to give this one: thumbs down.

On a positive note, the book has great styling and nice photography.

Tank Top

There are only 15 projects. The first 40 pages have color pages showing the designs in color.

Slouch Socks

The rest of the book – the instructions are all in black and white with photos in a sort of washed gray.

Kelly Cardigan

The patterns have inches and centimeters for sizing and do have an extensive size range. There are no diagrams or schematic drawing.

Bottom line: If you want a book of really simple basic projects – this is a good book. Looks like it is out-of-print, but is available through Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Knits-Timeless-Designs-Collectibles/dp/0307347192/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1418754252&sr=1-2&keywords=classic+knits